Chapter Nine
Hogsmeade
The castle seemed draftier than usual as Reign made her way through the corridors and down the stairwell. It also seemed rather empty. She stopped when she realized she hadn't seen a soul while walking. She cursed under her breath while concluding that it must be Saturday; the day third-years and up were given the privilege of going to Hogsmeade for the afternoon. Despite her earlier wishes of shopping in peace, Reign pushed on, gliding swiftly toward her destination. She was not about to stay at Hogwarts and wander around aimlessly by herself. She was still afraid she would run into him.
Had it been eighteen years already? She had known that she would never see him again. And yet in a small, dusty corner of her mind there was still that chance. And now here she was. And she was completely unprepared. She needed more time to sort out what she would say when they met again; not if, but when, for it was inevitable that they would see each other. Reign shuddered at the thought and tried to push all the scornful looks and hurtful remarks that would most likely come from him out of her mind. They would meet, but not yet. She still needed time--that, and descent clothes.
The sun greeted her as she stepped through the main doors and out onto the grounds. She was grateful for the warm, bright day that lay before her. It lifted her spirits and formed a smile on her hopeful face. The walk to Hogsmeade was uneventful and short. Reign took advantage of her isolation and leapt into the air, soaring for a few precious moments and then falling gracefully onto the ground. She did this twice, and by the time she had landed the second time, was but a hundred feet from the entrance to the village.
There were so many people there. Hundreds of cloaked figures of all heights and ages. Most of them were students, and most of them recognized her as the woman who made the dramatic entrance into their lives a few days ago. Only some stared, and those that did were mostly third-years. The older ones were too preoccupied with other matters to really care. But the looks still bothered her, so she pulled her hood up and over her brow, shielding all but her chin from prying eyes. Lifting her head a few inches provided for an unobstructed view of her path, and she pushed through the humans until she found the clothing shop, Gladrags Wizardwear.
Reign loved wizarding shops. They were so magical, and despite all their owners' efforts, were still disorganized. But this gave them a homey feeling, and Reign immediately felt comfortable as she stepped into the shop and removed her hood. No one but the shopkeeper was in at the time, and as Reign looked around, the old witch kept a watchful and curious eye on her.
There were so many articles of clothing--cloaks, shirts, pants, hats, boots, belts--that Reign didn't know where to start. She sort of stood in the middle of the old wooden floor, before a rather brilliant sapphire colored fabric caught her eye. She strode over to the rack and stroked the robe. It was soft, but strong.
"Just got that one in. Silk that is, from the giant Bangor moth in India. Strongest fiber in the world." Reign nodded as the woman explained the clothing. "Would you like to try it on, dear?" Reign tipped her head again. The witch pulled out the robe and held it in place as Reign fit herself into it. The fabric flowed over Reign like the waters of the ocean, and was just as blue. She tugged at the ends of the sleeves and various places within the folds, checking its strength. The old witch was about to object to her test, but by the time she opened her mouth Reign had already finished.
"I'll take it." The shopkeeper smiled as she helped her customer out of the robe and carried it over to the cash register.
"Will that be all for you, dear?" Reign began wandering around the floor again.
"Actually, I am looking for an entirely different wardrobe." The witch squealed as she ran from behind the counter. It wasn't everyday someone was looking to replace a whole wardrobe. She helped Reign pick out seven pairs of pants (all different shades of brown), ten shirts (all white with collars and cuffed sleeves), four vests (silver, emerald, sky blue, and dark brown), three more robes (forest green, crimson, and black), two pairs of just-below-the-knees leather boots (black and brown), a skirt (gold with silver trim and two front slits from floor to mid thigh), a cotton v-neck top with a small leather string laced through the top, two belts (black and brown leather), and a black winter cloak.
As the old woman rang up her total, Reign pulled her money pouch from her robes. She stopped before opening the bag, realizing that she only had Elvin money to pay with. The woman told her the final amount, and Reign hesitantly pulled out a diro from the bag. The shopkeeper stared in awe at the brilliant gold coin sitting in the elf's palm.
"I'm sorry, but this is the only money I have," she began. "I'm not sure how much it's worth, but--" the old woman grabbed the coin and glared hungrily at the rest of Reign's small fortune.
"Though I don't believe elvish money is worth as much as wizard money, I'm sure we can work something out." She placed her wrinkled fingers around the pouch and pulled it toward her as she talked. Reign scowled, figuring that she was being taken advantage of. Just then the bell above the door rang, and the floorboards shook as something large entered the shop. Reign looked toward the entrance and smiled wide as she recognized Hogwarts' Groundskeeper.
"Hagrid!" she shouted as she ran to him. The giant picked her clear up off the floor and embraced her like the old friends they were. When he set her down she noticed a tear in his eye.
"Dumbledore told me you were alive, but--" he wiped the water from his jaunty face and hugged the woman again. "It's good to see ye, Reign."
"It's good to see you also, Hagrid," she huffed as he squeezed all the air out of her. After releasing her for the second time, Reign led Hagrid to the counter. She had to forcefully yank her pouch from the witch's grasp in order to show her friend the money.
"Why, this old witch almost scammed ye, Reign," he boomed as he glared at the shopkeeper. "Who do ye think ye are, tryin to take advantage of a stranger like this?" he growled at the woman, who cowered behind the register. Reign put a hand on Hagrid's arm, and his eyes softened as he pulled back.
After making sure that her purchases would be kept safe in the shop, Reign and Hagrid apparated to Gringotts bank. Reign really was carrying a fortune. It turned out that her elvish money was worth so much that she needed to open an account in order to keep all of it safe. The two companions reminisced the whole way to and from the shop. It was good for Reign to see a friendly and familiar face, and Hagrid was more than happy to visit with her again.
After shrinking all of her packages so they would fit in her robes, Hagrid led Reign to the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer. The air wasn't as stuffy in the bar as in most others. Reign figured that was due to the fact that it had to be kept up because of the many students visiting and adding to its profits. Hagrid took a seat in the corner and waited while Reign went to the bathroom to change. When she came back out the giant's jaw dropped to the floor. She had chosen the sky blue vest and sapphire robes to wear over her new shirt and pants. Her leather boots were stiff as she walked slowly to the table, but if there were any imperfections Hagrid failed to notice.
After five pints of Butterbeer Hagrid got up to leave. Reign was still on her first; she was still trying to get used to the sweetness of it. Hagrid offered to walk her back up to the castle, but Reign declined, saying she wanted to stick around for a little longer and finish her drink.
"Alright then, I'll see ye at dinner?"
"Of course." The giant smiled and stomped out of the bar, leaving Reign to sit by herself and watch life going on around her.
She leaned back in her chair and the shadows of the corner enveloped her. There were many wizards and witches coming through the bar. She watched an ancient witch beg for money, and two snobbish wizards turn their noses up at her. She watched a mother wipe the face of her young son who had spilled milk all over himself. She watched a young couple cuddle in the corner opposite of her. She watched all of the interactions going on in the small space, and she felt completely alone.
So she left.
She stood up from her seat and strode out of Three Broomsticks, never having finished her drink. It didn't seem as crowded on the street, perhaps it was getting later in the day than she had thought. She still had to squeeze through the warm bodies and avoid the stares. She just walked, and she wasn't sure why or where she was going. A small bookshop finally pulled her out of the masses and through its doors. She fluffed her robes and looked up to meet the curious eyes of the customers. She scowled at them and went to the nearest shelf of books and began examining them. There was nothing that she was remotely interested in, but she was curious nonetheless. A distraught yelp made its way to her ear, and Reign turned just in time to see a dark haired boy fall to the ground. The pale boy who had tripped him still had his leg sticking out as he snickered. Reign got over to them just in time. The dark haired boy had sprung from the ground and retrieved his wand from his robes. His opponent pulled his wand also, and they were serious about dueling in the shop.
She seemed to come from nowhere, and placed herself in between the two young men. She had to push them far enough away from each other to do so, and then placed a hand on each of their chests in order to keep them from squashing her before going at it again.
"Now boys," she started as they shot arrows at each other. She moved her hands to their chins, and tipped their heads so they were looking at her. Both immediately softened their gaze. "This is no place to start a fight," she lectured, looking from one set of wide eyes to the other. "You both should know better." The dark haired boy hung his head while the other held his head proud and retorted.
"Well I can't help it if Potter's a klutz with an aggressive nature." Potter lunged at the other boy, shouting curses and flaying his arms. Reign held him back and calmed him as his archenemy laughed maliciously behind her. Blood trickled from the corner of the boy's mouth, but he didn't seem to notice. Reign gathered a small section of her robes and spit on it. While she was wiping the blood away and soothing the young boy, the other laughed even louder.
"What is this, Potter? Found a replacement for your mum?" The boy struggled against Reign's powerful grasp. He had a look in his eyes that told the woman he would probably kill him if she let go. So she held on tight while turning on the other boy.
"I am truly amazed that a boy with your small frame can support such a bloated head." The boy in her arms laughed now, as the other advanced on her. He didn't stop until he was inches from her nose. Before he could speak, however, the door opened and another man entered the shop.
"Draco? What's going on here?" he demanded after surveying the scene. He was dressed in black and he looked very powerful. His long white hair was pulled back against his black cloak. His features were hard; his jaw was square and tight and his eyes were piercing and ghostly blue. And as he spoke, he tapped a black cane with a silver snake on the top against the floor. Draco pulled back and stood by his father.
"Potter tried to attack me."
"That's a lie!" the boy shouted. Reign placed her hand on his arm to restrain him.
"Now now, Potter. There's no need to raise your voice. I'm sure--" he stopped when he noticed the woman standing next to the dark haired boy. He wasn't the gawking type, but he was at that moment. Her hair was even whiter than his, and her skin many shades darker. Her magnificent green eyes scrutinized his as he inspected her. The outfit she was wearing complimented her body perfectly, and she didn't look like all the other pushovers he had met in the world. He brought his eyes back up to hers when she cleared her throat, and noticed her pointed ears. An elf? He questioned in his mind. Interesting.
"Aren't you going to introduce us, Potter?" he asked as he stepped closer to the woman. He didn't wait for the introduction. He went straight to Reign and took her hand in his. "Lucius Malfoy." He kissed her hand; his lips were ice on her skin. She pulled back and stared at him curiously. "And you are?"
"My name is Reign." Her voice was so melodic. Lucius smiled and layered on the charm.
"Ah, I think a name better suited for you would be Sun, for you emit a light so brilliant it could only come from the warm rays of our star." He was completely oblivious to the two boys watching them, who had secretly joined forces in thinking that the interaction was totally cheesy. Draco was a little nervous inside. Nervous for what his father had planned.
"Not that kind of rain," the elf explained. Lucius felt awkward as he searched for words to make up for his mistake. When he found them, a devilish smile spread across his face.
"Ah, I see. You speak of the more powerful version of the word." Reign shook her head as Malfoy leaned in closer to her. "Even better," he whispered. She could feel his hot breath on her skin and became weak in the knees. She closed her eyes and upon opening them realized that he had backed away from her. Malfoy grabbed his son and--after giving Potter a death stare--stalked to the door. Before leaving he turned to Reign.
"I look forward to our next encounter." He shoved Draco out the door and followed his lead. When they were gone, Reign turned to the dark haired boy.
"Do you think they want people to hate them? Or does it just come naturally?" The boy laughed.
"Definitely naturally. I don't think they could be nice if they tried." Reign smiled.
"Are you all right, Harry?" she asked, referring to his injury. His hand flew to his lips.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." She walked passed him to a table of books and began flipping through them. The boy eyed her suspiciously, trying to remember where he had seen her before. "Aren't you the woman who--"
"Yes."
"But I thought you--"
"I did," she said slowly before looking up into the green eyes of Harry Potter. His eyes were confused. His mouth hung open as he tried to piece the story together.
"Then how did you--" he wasn't interrupted, he just didn't finish.
"Your nurse is a miracle worker." She winked and headed off to another table. Harry followed closely behind.
"Are you staying at Hogwarts?"
"Yes."
"For how long?" Reign stopped flipping.
"As long as it takes." Harry stepped closer to her.
"As long as it takes for what?" She looked into his eyes. They were so soft and innocent.
"I don't know," she answered. And it was the truth. Harry dropped his gaze to the book he was holding. Reign glanced at it. "Planning on buying that?" Harry looked up and nodded. She took the book from him and walked over to the counter. He protested the whole way, but Reign demanded purchasing it for him. The shopkeeper rang the book up and waited patiently for his money as Reign took out her pouch and opened it up to her new wizard money. She stopped.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked. An embarrassingly red face looked up at him.
"I don't know how your money works." She held the bag out to the boy, who took the right amount out and handed it to the man behind the counter. Afterwards Reign and Harry walked out of the shop together.
"Thank you for the book," he said as they pushed their way through the crowd.
"Your very wel--" Reign stopped. Harry had stopped. He was supposed to meet Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid at Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer half an hour ago.
"Do you want to join us?"
"No no, that's alright. Thank you, but I think I'm going to head back." Harry shrugged and thanked her for the book again. As Reign walked away, Ron Weasley grabbed Harry's arm.
"Where have you been? We've been waiting for over an hour!" he exaggerated. Harry didn't saying anything, he just pointed. Ron followed his fingers to Reign, and the bottom half of his jaw fell onto the ground. Harry punched him in the side to wake him. Then he explained who she was. Ron stared at the elf the whole time his friend talked. When he had finished, Reign had already disappeared through the crowd, but Ron was still staring.
"Blimey. Do you think she? And I?" Harry laughed and punched him again. "I'm serious! How old do you think she is?"
"Yeah right, Ron. Even if she was younger, she's way out of both our leagues." Ron glared at him.
"Speak for yourself. I'm a very wanted wizard. I've got plenty of girls who want to date me." Harry laughed.
"Is that why you're still single?"
"I'm just picky, that's all." They started walking. "Besides. This is the year for us, Harry. I can feel it." He threw out his arms and shouted, "Look out ladies! Here we come!" They both laughed when a few people gave them strange looks. It was about time for them to head back to the carriages. They met up with Hermione and got into their appropriate transport. When Harry sat down he glanced out the window. He could have sworn he saw an enormous blue bird soaring toward the castle, but after taking a double take and not seeing anything, decided best to keep it to himself.
